Anyone in London do Yoga?

I've recently started thinking about going to yoga classes, but I'd have to find a place that was relatively, erm, accessible for noobs, for me to feel comfortable going.

I went for a while at university, and enjoyed it, although the teacher was a bit of a weird dude/sex pest. That wasn't a problem for me, as i was the wrong gender, but it kind of put me off anyway.

So, if anyone can recommend a yoga centre, for a beginner, preferably in Stoke Newington/Hackney, I'd be interested to hear about it!

there is already a thread for this.

i feel another merge comin' on!

Stoke Newington...?
Jeees, the streets are dripping with yoga teachers. Just hang aroung in Fresh and Wild near the smug hummus.

i would think so

OP: check yoga for cyclists, a thread on here.

My flatmate just started going to yoga and has obsessively visited every instructor in Stokie. She has very definite views on which ones are good - I'll investigate and respond on here with her take on it.

CushT, bogue's Yoga for Cyclists class is very friendly and accessible and definitely suitable for beginners. It's in Bethnal Green, which isn't the end of the world from Stoke Newington. I've been going for over a year and recommend it highly. See the thread link above.

Oh, and the yoga centre is bodywise on Roman Road.

cush t

I do 4 yoga clasess a week when I can get them in. Am a member of la fitness gyms so can find classes all over london, quality varies a little. They must hate me as I hammer my membership also doing a couple of pilates classes a week.

At the gym near me they let the core attendees vet the yoga instructors, so when they need a new one they bring in 2 or 3 and we chose the one we like best.

The best place for high quality instructors in my experience has been triyoga - the rapha of yoga, nice but pricey.

ok great. yeah i had looked at that other cycling yoga thread, but I was interested in doing Yoga irrespective of my cycling/i don't have any cycling related injuries.

It might still be worth checking out.

Yeah let me know Bleakreference. I realise Stokie will be crawling with this kind of thing, but thought this forum might be useful for finding a place that isnt too pretentious.

Thanks again for the responses so far!

Apparently the one on Church St, down that little road next to Mudfoot and Scruff, is ace. The ones at Clissold Leisure Centre are good but the instructors are patchy - one is very good, one sucks. Hope that helps a bit.

In an attempt to get fitter and strengthen my back I'm trying to start playing squash and doing yoga.

Both need time planning / pre-booking.

My question is whether at the start booking a yoga session the evening after playing squash is a good idea? I can think of pros and cons. Or would a rest day be a better idea?

I have fairly poor flexibility, but I think I'm average fitness - ie I don't run, but if you asked me right now I could do a light, but constant 20-30mins jog without stopping or dying.

The yoga class in question would be "Hot Rocket Yoga":

Dynamic yoga that gets you there faster……
A fun and invigorating sequence with the focus on linking movement and breath to create a strong vinyasa flow. This class will make you sweat! Strengthen the body, develop the core, increase flexibility and improve balance and posture while bringing calmness and clarity to the mind. Open and challenging to all levels from beginner to advanced, with a specially mixed soundtrack to keep the energy moving.

The ROCKET system is considered to be the original power yoga, created by Larry Shultz of ‘Its Yoga, San Francisco’ to free up the Ashtanga yoga series as pioneered by Sri Pattabhi Jois.

Also other than a towel and water is their anything I need to bring, or any tips I might not think of?

Cheers.

Yoga in heated rooms...

Surely it will make me more supple (and slippery)?

any tips I might not think of.
Give up the squash - It's not an effective way to get fit, and if you are unfit, has a very high risk of causing injury.

I take your point, but "getting fitter" was shorthand. There are lots of reasons for wanting to get back into playing squash that I won't bore you with.

I just wondered whether yoga is the type of thing that you'd struggle to do the day after playing sport, or if it would actually be complementary.

ps I don't think I'm "unfit".... but I guess I'll soon find out.

^ I often alternate yoga with going to the gym or doing some other fairly strenuous activity. Unless you're doing some kind of "power yoga" or other "fitness" style (as opposed to stretching, holding, breathing kinds) you should be right alternating that and whatever else.

I do mine from a book or video (plenty on youtube) to avoid the aforementioned sex pest types (surprisingly common at classes that aren't part of gym membership) and messianic hippies. That said, having a good instructor that comes around to correct your positions can be really helpful. However, while at home you can fart to your heart's content.

I am a member at tri yoga. They have 3 studios and have classes in many different yoga disciplines, some like Iyengar or anusara focus on alignment, stretching and posture, others are more cardio and dynamic.

I tend to do 5-8 hours per week. If I have been active on the bike I'll do classes that focus on flexibility and deep core work, if I have energy to burn I will do a more physical class.

Cheers. It's a pain having to pre-plan this stuff so much... but I guess that's the downside of working regular hours and living in London.

I bought one of those bulk 10 class groupon deals for Fitness on Fire ( http://fitnessonfire.org.uk/ )

I'll see how I get on over the coming weeks.

My ex used to do 1 class, and then a couple of home youtube/video classes per week. I'm hoping 10 classes of varrious styles will give me some basics to do the same. I'm trying to save £s so I don't really want to be spending loads on classes.

Do a beginners course to start with.

Bikram yoga do a £30 for 30 days introduction offer and normally they have a lot of classes. Squash courts I find a pain to get hold of and require meticulous planning.

Bikram gives no proper training, just imitate others in the class.

I'd suggest training in an alignment based discipline Iyengar or Anusara and then consider doing more dynamic yoga if you wish to.

Triyoga have loads of classes all day every day across 3 locations which makes it fairly easy to find something to drop in to. http://www.triyoga.co.uk/classes/

They would suggest doing a beginners course too.
http://www.triyoga.co.uk/new-to-yoga-2/

or there is the Iyengar institute

http://www.iyi.org.uk/Starter-Classes/foundation-courses.html

Hi Guys,

I have studied yoga for some years and use it as my daily warm-up routine before riding. It can be quite strenuous so I'd recommend taking classes to begin with in order to avoid injury. Then, after aligning yourself, take it in your own direction. I'm usually in one of the parks around the Islington area for at least 1/2 an hour each day, I use my own mod of Ashtanga yoga and I **always **turn my bike over onto it's saddle and 'bars beside me as I work.

If you spot me (A Big Guy) then head on over and say 'Hi', it's always good to meet new people in my area. Please allow me to continue my work until my chanting is complete though.

Beloved
HARDAMERICANMUSCLE

That is the best post that has ever appeared on this forum.
From the username, through the bolded out always to the chanting everything about this post is perfect.

10/10

Thank you Prince,

This is the first forum website I've joined and I value your positive greeting. Also I had a dog named Prince, a Schnauzer. He was a beauty.

Beloved
HARDAMERICANMUSCLE